The Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) cancelled its planned fireworks display to welcome 2014 at the city last night as a sign of its sensitivity to the floods that residents of the state suffered from last month.

Berita Harian quoted MPK president Zulkifli Yaacob as saying that the sudden cancellation was because “we are sensitive to the views of the people”.

“As a result, we hope there will not be dissatisfaction among the people, as we had announced the matter several weeks ago.

“At this time, we are in an alert situation since a second wave of floods has been predicted,” the report cited him as saying.

The festivities at the Balok Recreation Centre would also have included a cultural performance, songs and pantomime.

The floods in Pahang were among the worst experienced by the state, and caused over 40,000 people to be evacuated early last month.

The activities in Kuantan to celebrate the New Year were a contrast to various fireworks displays at Putrajaya, Shah Alam, Malacca and Alor Setar last night.

Fireworks were also seen at an area adjacent to Dataran Merdeka which was the site of an anti-price hikes rally by the NGO Gerakan Turun Kos Sara Hidup (Turun) last night.